Assembly Resolution No. 782

BY: M. of A. Walter

COMMENDING Colleen C. DiPirro upon the occasion
of her retirement as President and CEO of the
Amherst Chamber of Commerce after 36 years of
invaluable public service

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that
the quality and character of life in the communities across New York
State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those
individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community
and its citizenry; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Colleen C. DiPirro upon the occasion of her retirement as
President and CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce after 36 years of
invaluable public service; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious milestone will be celebrated at a
Retirement Party held in her honor on Thursday, February 1, 2018, at
Park Country Club in Williamsville, New York; and

WHEREAS, Colleen C. DiPirro majored in marketing at Alfred State
College; she furthered her education by attending the Institute for
Organizational Management at Notre Dame, and later, the University of
Delaware at Newark; and

WHEREAS, Prior to joining the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, Colleen
C. DiPirro worked for the Erie County Legislature, and held the
positions of retail manager and US Air Flight Attendant; and

WHEREAS, In 1981, Colleen C. DiPirro began her illustrious career
with the Amherst Chamber of Commerce as the single staff person; under
her luminous leadership, the Chamber has seen an increase in membership
from less than 200 members to over 3,000, representing more than 1,300
businesses; in addition, the annual budget has grown from $24,000 to
over $1.9 million; and

WHEREAS, Currently, the Amherst Chamber of Commerce employs eight
full-time, professional staff members and operates out of a suite of
offices in Centerpointe Corporate Park in Williamsville, New York; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her tenure, Colleen C. DiPirro has accomplished
numerous goals; with her guidance, the Chamber assisted the University
at Buffalo's Athletics Department in attaining Division 1 status; and

WHEREAS, Colleen C. DiPirro is also proud of the role the
organization plays in alerting its members of public policy issues; and

WHEREAS, In addition to her work with the Amherst Chamber of
Commerce, this dynamic woman was the first President of the WNY Chamber
Alliance, an organization for Chamber Executives serving an eight-county
region; in 1999, she served on the Board of Directors of New York State
Chamber of Commerce Executives; and


WHEREAS, Colleen C. DiPirro was selected by Ralph Wilson, the late
owner of the Buffalo Bills, to serve on the Project 21 initiative, and
today, serves as event and sponsorship coordinator and a member of the
Advisory Board for the Buffalo Bills Alumni; and

WHEREAS, Colleen C. DiPirro was a participant of the Transition Team
for several Erie County Executives, and was a member of numerous
not-for-profit and community boards of directors including WNY Autism
Foundation, Hospice Playhouse Project, Executive Women International,
Buffalo Prep, Unyts, and Williamsville Sweet Home Junior Football
Association, as well as Shea's Performing Arts; moreover, she held the
title of the first Chairman of the University of Buffalo Leadership
Development Program; and

WHEREAS, Former Governor George Pataki appointed Colleen C. DiPirro
to serve as a Commissioner on the Peace Bridge Authority and to the New
York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
appointed Colleen to the Western New York Regional Economic Development
Council, a position she has held since it was created; in 2016, Governor
Cuomo appointed her to the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Board of
Directors; and

WHEREAS, Colleen C. DiPirro is also a member of the Executive
Committee and Board of Directors of Independent Health and was appointed
to the Erie County Industrial Development Agency Policy Committee by
County Executive Mark Poloncarz; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of her community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Colleen C. DiPirro has stood
constant in dignity, good grace and humor; and

WHEREAS, For her steadfast and unremitting commitment to Erie
County, Colleen C. DiPirro was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential
People in Western New York by Business First several times, and one of
the Top Ten Most Influential Women in 2016; and

WHEREAS, Colleen C. DiPirro was also the first woman honored as the
Executive of the Year by the Buffalo Sales and Marketing Executives in
1998; in that same year, Daemen College named her their Citizen of the
Year; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, Colleen C. DiPirro was the recipient of the
Governor's Award for Excellence in Business, and in 2009, she was
recognized as the Buffalo Bills Citizen of the Year; and

WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her two sons, and her four
grandchildren, all of whom have shown her love and support and rejoice
in her many achievements; and

WHEREAS, During her much deserved retirement, Colleen C. DiPirro
plans on serving as a consultant for economic development and public
policy at the Chamber, and will be available to lend her expertise when
needed; and

WHEREAS, As President and CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce,
Colleen C. DiPirro served with loyalty, honor and distinction, earning

her the admiration, esteem and affection of her colleagues and the
community-at-large; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which Colleen C. DiPirro has
displayed throughout her life; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Colleen C. DiPirro upon the occasion of her retirement as
President and CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce after 36 years of
invaluable public service, and to wish her continued success in all her
future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Colleen C. DiPirro.